System and Method to Drive Away Geese

ABSTRACT

A system and method for driving geese away from an area employs predetermined random illuminations of particular wavelength light directed in a fashion that repels geese while avoiding annoying humans. Embodiments include systems associated with golf course pins and other structures and animal decoys that hide undesired aesthetic appearances of prior art industrial lighting elements. Other embodiments employ adjustable/movable mirror elements used in conjunction with systems powered by solar energy panels positioned below the light source, which can be adjusted in terms of direction, shielding, color, duration, wavelength and pulsation, providing a variety of random patterns so as to avoid habituation by geese.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/733,599, filed on Jan. 3, 2020 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,297,822, issuedApr. 12, 2022), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/374,382, filed on Dec. 9, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,524,465,issued Jan. 7, 2020), which claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/266,069 filed on Dec. 11, 2015. The entiredisclosure of the prior application is considered to be part of thedisclosure of the accompanying application and is hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A system and method for driving geese away from an area employspredetermined wavelength light directed in a fashion that repels geesewhile also avoiding undesired light annoyance of humans, such systemconnectable to golf course structures and/or housed in an animal decoy,and being operated in a manner that avoids habituation by geese viarandom emission of signals as to direction, shielding, color, duration,color and pulsation of signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, due to changes in land use, climate changes, andcultural practices, populations of several avian species, including theCanadian Goose, has increased. Associated with this increase inpopulation, is damage to property as well as increased risks to humanhealth and safety. Although these problems are on the rise, the numberof management options available to control birds has been limited tonon-lethal approaches. There are two types of Canadian geese that causeproblems for residents, golf courses, public parks, airports,etc.—resident geese and non-resident geese. Resident geese have a smallterritory that they habituate annually and they do not migrate toCanada. Non-resident geese migrate to Canada annually. Geese willusually, at night, rest on the water, away from land predators, andspend a majority of their night resting on the water where it is safe.

Unlike migratory geese, resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis) breedand nest in the United States. From 1970 to 2010, resident Canada goosepopulations in the United States increased about 14-fold—from 250,000 to3.5 million. In the Eastern United States alone, resident Canada goosepopulations exceed 1 million and have increased by 2 percent each yearduring the last 10 years. A main factor contributing to their dramaticpopulation growth is their tendency to nest in urban and suburban areas,where the geese have ideal habitat with few predators and where huntingcannot be used to control the population. Geese prefer to land on waterand to graze on grassy areas within sight of a body of water.Additionally, geese may concentrate nesting and brood rearing activitiesnear water.

Homeowners, corporations, golf courses and farmers have sought ways todeter geese from inhabiting their property. Golf courses have usedBorder Collies, firecrackers, guns (blanks), decoys, balloons, wires,and general harassment. Farmers have tried propane exploders, scareflags, shell crackers, and hunters, all of which have provenunsuccessful at keeping geese from crops in the long term. Tests ofearly audio systems in agricultural fields deterred geese in some areas,while no effect was seen in others, and geese habituated to propaneexploders as well. The distribution of Canada Geese is widespread, andtheir behavior has enabled them to thrive in urban settings. Theytherefore pose a greater potential risk to human health than otherwaterfowl. When congregations of birds remain in the same areas for longperiods they can emaciate grass, nutrify soils (through excessive fecaldeposits), and make public areas unusable for picnics, resting orgeneral park activities.

The majority of Canada goose damage complaints involve accumulations offeces on lawns and walkways at homes, schools, hospitals, corporatecampuses, and public parks. Goose feces damage property, compromiseoverall quality of life, and have the potential to pose serious healththreats due to the presence of disease-causing organisms. Birdstrikes—the collision between birds and aircraft—are among the mostcommon aviation hazards. Bird strikes pose safety risks to passengers(e.g., 23 human deaths and 223 injuries from 1990 to 2011 in USA). Withincreases in the number of routes and flights, this threat is on therise. Collisions between birds and aircraft (bird strikes) areexpensive, risk human lives, and increase bird mortality.

Other damage associated with geese includes overgrazing of lawns andrecreational fields, and goose aggression and human injury during thenesting season.

Waterfowl such as Canada geese may also pose serious flight safetyhazards at airports. Due to their large body size, flocking behavior,and relative abundance in urban/suburban areas, geese have the potentialto be involved in damaging bird-aircraft strikes that have resulted inloss of human lives, injuries, and substantial financial losses. Goosepoop in a pond greatly increases the degree of chemical and bacterialremediation required to maintain a healthy pond environment. The costsfor treating a pond with such chemicals and beneficial bacteria aresignificantly increased due to the presence of geese, and thus, byhaving a goose deterrent system as described herein, the ability tomaintain a healthy pond is tremendously enhanced.

Such accidents cause annual damages that have been estimated at $700million within the United States alone and up to $1.2 billion tocommercial aircrafts worldwide. Additionally, damages in and around thefacilities and aircrafts where birds nest and congregate cost millionsof dollars in the man-hours needed for bird strike prevention andclean-up.

No Federal or State wildlife permit is required to harass geese, as longas they are not handled, harmed or killed. Many ways have been attemptedto deter geese, with mixed success. Habitat modifications includealteration of vegetation and bodies of water to remove theirattractiveness for geese. Unfortunately habitat management may alsoadversely affect the usefulness of the property for its intendedpurpose. Two chemical formulations are registered with the U.S. EPA asCanada goose taste repellents: methyl anthranilate (MA) andanthraquinone. The cost of the material (approximately $150-250/acre ofgrass) is cost-prohibitive for widespread use on private lawns. Pastbird dispersal techniques also included the use of high volume audiblealarms or explosives to disperse birds. These devices, however, arelimited to rural areas where the intense noise did not disturb residentsand are of only arguable effectiveness. Other examples of typicalmethods include reducing grassy areas, using shrubbery and foliage tocordon off water bodies, installing fences, utilizing noise makers toscare the geese away, and flavoring the grass with distastefulsubstances.

Many of the above recited methods are impractical, as reducing grassyareas and surrounding water hazards with shrubbery is inconsistent withthe purpose of a golf course or athletic field. Utilizing noise makerssuch as cap guns or the discharge of blank shells necessarily upsets theserenity of these locations for humans as well as geese. U.S. Pat. No.7,699,018 to Wells employs the use of solar powered lights to attempt todeter geese, but such lights are typically amber in color, have anindustrial aesthetic appearance in otherwise pastoral settings, areexpensive and their flashing yellow/amber light at dusk and through thenight have caused neighbors to complain as to the annoyance created bysuch lights, adversely affect the quiet enjoyment of property owners,including even the owners of such lights. U.S. Pat. No. 8,667,930 toHomung is directed to an apparatus to avert waterfowl settlements thatincludes an elongated tubular housing having an end cap, a solar panelmounted on top of the housing cap to recharge a battery power source anda means to sense ambient light for device activation, preferablyincluding bird spikes mounted atop a solar collector panel. Similar toWells, however, the type of light used by Homung, creates an eyesore ina setting where such an unsightly addition defeats much of the purposefor many residents of having a water feature.

Other prior art methods have proven difficult to use for variousreasons. Chemical repellants are expensive, have limited residual effectand may have currently unknown environmental consequences. Noise makers,such as air cannons, are not welcomed in residential areas and it isbelieved that they are of limited use because waterfowl adapt quickly tothe sounds. Balloons and Mylar tape barriers are eyesores, distract fromnatural settings, are of controversial value and seem to offer limitedresults. Birds quickly learn that the playing of recorded distress callsis a false alarm and thereafter tend to avoid such warnings.

Thus, there have been many and varied approaches to deter geese frompopulating certain areas, all of which have mixed results in terms ofeffectiveness. Any means to limit the number of geese in particularareas and to reduce the associated damages they cause, would be of greatvalue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges faced by prior art systems lies inthe ability of geese to learn of the patterns, context, and set up ofsuch deterrent systems and to then disregard such deterrent attempts.Avoiding habituation by employing a system and method that is costeffective, able to be modifiable in an easy and unnerving way to geese,while presenting warnings, whether they be visual or audible, or both,that avoid unduly hindering humans in their enjoyment of the propertieswhere such devices are located, is a long sought but unsolved objective.The present invention provides a solution to these continued problems.

In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a geesedeterrent system and method that avoids geese from habituating to thelight and sound signals intended to thwart their presence from apre-designated area. Using the present system, geese do not acquire acomfort with such systems to then disregard such deterrent attempts.Employing a system and method that is cost effective, able to bemodifiable in an easy and unnerving way to geese, while presentingwarnings, whether they be visual or audible, or both, and that avoidunduly hindering humans in their enjoyment of the properties where suchdevices are located, is a long sought objective that is achieved via thepresent invention.

Geese have four retinal cones which allow them to see in the visiblelight spectrum as well as the UV spectrum. Homung, U.S. Pat. No.8,667,930 teaches using an industrial appearing light emitting structurein order to temporarily incapacitate the visual defense system of ageese flock by flashing lights at a particular time of dusk, therebymaking the zone seem unsafe to inhabit for the night and allegedlydriving the flock from its location. Homung's invention is predicatedupon an expressed belief that geese have something akin to adark-adapted nighttime vision in humans and suggests using light in thegreen spectrum apparently due to Homung's speculation that the greenregion of the visual spectrum is the brightest color perceived by therods in the eye at dusk and nighttime. Homung fails to appreciate,however, the importance of the aesthetic characteristics of a device todeter geese. Homung's device also involves the particular periodicity ofhis flashing lights, which geese quickly adapt to. His lighting deviceis unduly annoying to other humans in the area. Perhaps tacitlyadmitting his device's ineffectiveness, Homung also teaches that a birdspike be used to prevent bird roosting on his device.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,018 to Wells describes a tubular structure on landor floating in a pond where a single amber colored flashing light, ispowered by a battery positioned above a floatation ring and a solarpanel above the light. Wells single rhythmic cyclical flashing lightpattern is not believed to be of particular effectiveness, and itsconstruction requires an unaesthetic combination of an upper and a lowerfloatation tube with a sealing collar between them, along with astabilizing floatation ring.

In contrast, in preferred embodiments the present invention employs alight that displays a wavelength spectrum that disturbs geese far morethan it does humans, preferably with wavelengths that humans cannotperceive. Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to amethod to drive away geese from a particular area by providing one ormore lighting elements that comprise light emissions that are at orabout a 409 nm wavelength, preferably employing LED lighting elementsand preferably being powered via solar power and related batteries, andthat preferably do not include wavelengths of light that would beconsidered annoying by humans, e.g. avoiding lighting elements thatdisperse a light having wavelengths above about 550 nm. In such amanner, and in contrast to prior art systems and methods, embodiments ofthe present invention are particularly useful in deterring the presenceof geese, while at the same time, not establishing an unduly annoyinglighting system for neighboring humans. The use of LEDs as the lightemitters provides for very low electric power consumption and thusgreatly extended battery life; high durability and long life. LEDs comein a selection of various colors including white, red, amber and green.

In various embodiments, the lighting elements are designed or programmedto flash intermittingly, preferably at random time periods varying fromabout one second intervals to about 120 second intervals, morepreferably between about 5 seconds and about 24 seconds, and mostpreferably between about 10 seconds and about 35 seconds. Even morepreferably the sequence of flashing varies so that geese do not growaccustomed to a steady rhythmic blinking of flashing of lights. In amost preferred embodiment, the wavelength of light employed for thelighting element is around 409 nm and is such that a human cannotdiscern such light as it is below the limit of a human's spectrum ofvision, but is within the vision range of geese. Thus, variousembodiments of the present invention provide a novel and non-obviousadvance in deterring geese by using a flashing light that disturbs geesebut that does not unduly disturb or annoy humans as humans can barely,if at all, see such frequency of light being emitted. Such an advanceover the prior art provides unique and extremely beneficial uses forgeese deterring lighting in areas where such prior art lighting may nototherwise be considered. For example, having random flashing lightsvisible to humans around an airport could potentially cause confusion topilots and actually impair safety, rather than advance safety concerns.By using the present invention, however, airport authorities can nowposition the present system in area where geese are to be deterredwithout such concern.

As it is known that different species of birds have different visionspectrums, with some birds having a vision spectrum that exceeds eventhat of geese, it is possible to provide a lighting system that employsprecisely and preconfigured ranges of wavelengths of light to beprojected in certain areas to deter specific types of birds. Forexample, birds of prey, such as hawks, eagles, etc. have a differentspectrum of vision than do ducks and geese, and thus, in certainenvironments, e.g. in the area of wind turbines, where such birds ofprey are often killed, such particularly designed and positionedlighting systems of the present invention can be used to prevent birdmortalities. Similar to the discussion above with respect to airportenvironments, the ability to provide deterrence lighting for particularspecies of birds in a given area without also exposing such area to alight wavelength that is found objectionable to humans, will expand theuse of the present invention to save vast numbers of bird lives, as wellas advance energy interests of humans without the controversysurrounding the establishment of wind mills and other similar types ofenergy producing equipment. One of skill in the art will also appreciatethe uses of the present system and method to deter certain types ofbirds from colliding with buildings by the proper positioning of suchlighting systems, tuned for the particular bird species one desires toprotect, on or near buildings, such that the birds stay away therefrom.

In other embodiments, the system and method employ flashing lightpatterns that are adjustable to change in intensity and/or duration, orin the pattern of light pulses, in an unpredictable and random manner,in contrast to some prior art systems. This achieves the basic objectiveof repelling geese from a designated area of interest by precluding anyhabituation.

Still other embodiments of the present invention, in contrast toexisting prior art systems, avoid the use of tubular components orhousings to retain batteries, ballast, etc. Moreover, the present systemhas in certain embodiments, solar panels mounted not at the top mostportion of a device (i.e. like many prior art systems) but rather in anarea below or on the same level as the light, which in manycircumstances, results in increased areas for solar collection, avoidsthe size and shape characteristics that having a solely top-most solarpanel requires, and provides for a vast array of aesthetically pleasingstructures to be employed for the purpose of deterring geese withouthaving industrial looking elements in what are otherwise pastoral andnatural environments. Indeed, it is believed that many potential usersof a geese deterrent system have and will continue to opt out of usingsuch systems unless the overall aesthetic concerns are addressed. Forexample, golf courses are prized for their pristine and yet finelymanicured natural settings, which are effectively destroyed by thepresence of an industrial looking geese deterrence lighting device,regardless of how useful it might be in deterring birds. There has beena long felt but unsolved need for a system and method that bothaddresses such overall aesthetic concerns, as well as being superior toprior art systems in deterring the presence of geese in such naturalsettings, such as a golf course, university and school grounds, parks,sports lawns, etc.

Below are descriptions of particular preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

Golf Ball Washer—A system and method of repelling geese in and around atee box area on a golf course, an area often populated with geese.Preferred embodiments employ an array of LED's generating a lightspectrum of 350-550 nm wavelength, emitting light in random timeintervals, patterns, and colors within a 90-360 degree pattern. Thelight source may be placed at eye level of the geese (e.g. 15-24″ fromground level) and be mounted on a post that includes the golf ballwasher and solar panel. A solar panel used to recharge batteries can bepositioned in one of 3 locations.

Location 1: on top of LED light source, Location 2: placed within thetop of the ball washer basin, Location 3: above the ball washer basinand attached by a bracket, thus allowing for a larger panel.Rechargeable batteries can be located within the ball washer postassembly or in a separate sealed compartment within the ball washingbasin. An ultrasonic signal in the 18 kHz and above range can be used inlieu of or in addition to the light source.

Pathway Light—A system and method of repelling geese designed tointegrate within a home or business's present landscape lighting scheme.The pathway light consists of a mounting post employing an array ofLED's generating a light spectrum of 350-550 nm wavelength, emittinglight in random time intervals, patterns and/or colors within the lightspectrum in a 90-360 degree pattern. The light source is adapted to beplaced at eye level of the geese, 15-24″ from ground level. A solarpanel located on top provides the capacity to recharge the batterieslocated within the mounting post. A round disc shaped solar panellocated on top of the unit is both a shield that prevents undesiredlight pollution of neighboring properties and also makes a design andartistic statement. The pathway light model can also utilize 12 v, thusallowing it to be integrated within an existing landscape system. Anultrasonic signal in the 18 kHz and above range can be used in additionto the light source.

Dock Side Mount—A system and method of repelling geese from ponds andlakes. This embodiment of the present invention employs an array ofLED's generating a light spectrum of 350-550 nm wavelength, emits lightin random time intervals, patterns, and/or colors within a 180 degreepattern, utilizing a 12 v power source. Mounted and attached to the sideof a dock or pier structure this embodiment deters geese from gatheringon the water of a pond or lake. In certain applications, especiallythose where 12 v powered units are not deemed necessary due to theability to power units via solar, several embodiments of the inventiondispense with the need for 12 v when there is insufficient availability.In embodiments that employ solar panels, such panels can be positionedwithin the dock or pier itself or in a more remote location, reducingthe complexity and weight of the floating units.

Greens Flag/Pin Embodiment—Various embodiments of the present inventioninclude a method and system of repelling geese from golf course greensand fairways by providing a configured greens flag/pin having a lightsource and solar panel associated there within. Preferred embodimentsemploy an array of LED's generating a light spectrum of 350-550 nmwavelength, emits light in random time intervals, patterns, and colorswithin a 90-360 degree pattern. The light source to be placed at eyelevel of the geese (e.g. 15-24″ from ground level) to be mounted on thegreens flag/pin, reversibly or integrally connected thereto. A solarpanel to be located on top of the flag/pin with a rechargeable batterylocated within the shaft of the flag/pin. An ultrasonic signal in the 18kHz and above range may be used in addition to the light source.

In various other embodiments, random flashing light units can be mountedin a decoy or other yard or water feature such that geese will beprimarily exposed to flashing lights at about their eye level—e.g.preferably no more than about 2 or 3 feet above the ground.

Another aspect of various embodiments of the present invention involvethe use of mirrors placed within about 75 yards of a randomly,unpredictable pulsating flashing light source such that geese who mayattempt to turn away from the light source are still exposed to theflashing light via reflections in the mirrors, further confusing thebirds and making them anxious, wary and thus, making them decide todepart the area. Thus, such mirrors can be employed even with prior artdevices to accomplish the objective of deterring geese from an area. Inone embodiment, mirrors at a size of 3×5 or 4×6 inches are mounted onposts that can be inserted into the ground around a light source,preferably at a distance of at least about 10 feet or more.

Similarly, another aspect of the present invention is directed to ageese deterrence system and method for employment at airports andairfields that repel birds from critical areas of the airport andrunways, particularly to areas around aircrafts and other high valuesystems, thereby avoiding or reducing potential property damage andpossible loss of life. The provision of both the random nature of thelight pulsations, as well as the ease and low cost ability to vary thepatterns by the use of moveable mirrors, etc. prevents the habituationseen when using prior art systems.

The frequency of light is one factor that is preferably adjustable toaccommodate different situations. In most cases, however, a preferredsystem employs a flashing random pattern that even more preferablyvaries in its increase in flashing frequency in the range of 1 Hz to 7Hz, and more preferably about 3.0 Hz. The purpose of such alterations infrequency and pattern is to avoid a flock of geese from becomingaccustomed to any particular predictable series of flashes orfrequencies. Certain embodiments of the present invention permit one topre-program a lighting pattern, intensity, direction, color, durationetc. especially with these characteristics being random andunpredictable in nature.

In certain applications, especially those where solar powered units arenot deemed necessary due to the ability to power units via 12 volt ormore conventional power systems, several embodiments of the inventiondispense with the need for solar powered complexities, including theneed to recharge batteries, the predicaments encountered when there isinsufficient solar power to adequately power units, etc. In suchsystems, as there is no need to shut the system off during the day,there is the advantage of having an 409 nm wavelength light employedeven during the day and at dusk (prior to when prior art systems wouldturn on due to their solar powered nighttime coding of programs, etc.)and thus, even on cloudy days or extended periods where solar power maynot adequately power geese deterrence systems, various embodiments ofthe present invention provide a 24/7 capability to deter geese from anarea. This is especially advantageous when the light employed to deterthe geese is below the human ability to see such light spectrum, but isstill visible to geese. Thus, a human would not otherwise appreciatethat the lighting system was on during the day (or the night for thatmatter.) The embodiments that do not require solar power also eliminatethe need for the costly and weighty battery systems of prior artsystems. Several embodiments of the present invention employ an array ofLEDs to provide several distinct light spectra emissions, with theappreciation by the present inventors that light emissions in the350-600 nm wavelength and with a random time interval and color pattern,and especially in more preferred embodiments employing a light with awavelength of about 200-410, more preferably 350-410, and mostpreferably having a 409 nm wavelength, it is possible to deter geesefrom a particular area. Moreover, several embodiments of the presentinvention dispense with the need for use of an array of LEDs to provideseveral distinct light spectra emissions, and instead, with theappreciation by the present inventors that the 409 nm wavelength is onethat particularly disturbs geese and is one that is not particularlyperceptible by humans, there is no need for a provision of distinctlight spectra emissions—but rather, one will do. Moreover, variousembodiments are devoid of the use of microcontroller circuitry includingthose that require a preset code, etc for operation. Instead, apre-programmed random black light system is sufficient to deter geese.

Yet still other embodiments are directed to decorative pond features,such as water fountains, but that further have lighting and or soundelements as described herein that are effective to deter geese and otherbirds from an area around a pond. These functional features can beincorporated as a part of decoys that resemble living animals such asthose that may be found around a water feature. Incorporated herein bythis reference is U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,218 to Gates. Other embodimentsemploy one or more lasers that are reflected off of a structure nearwhere geese may gather, such as a golf green, where the laser isreflected off of a flag pole or other structure. The moving of the flagpole for different hole positions within any given week facilitates therandom and periodic moving of the structure such that geese will notgrow accustomed to a particular light source. The laser beam employedmay have a wavelength that is able to be seen by birds or other animalsand that merely frightens them away rather than blinding them. Incertain embodiments, the patterns and speed of light scanning devicesare preferably variable and controlled by a control system.

The range of wavelengths of the light beam is preferably from about 200nm to less than about 633 nanometers, and most preferably between about200-400 nm, but in some instances including about 409, up to about 470nm. At about 409 and above, a blue light is particularly seen by geeseand not as much by humans. It is known that a goose's eyes are sensitiveto both ultraviolet light and human-visible light. The above approximatewavelengths are preferably selected to maximize impact to a goose's eyeby choosing wavelengths which are within the overlap area of ultravioletand human-visible light, but sparing the human annoyance occasioned byhaving a highly visible light randomly pulsating in a yard or on a waterbody. The visual acuity of birds and man is similar, but the visualacuity of birds is a bit greater than man's and a bird's rate ofassimilation of detail is higher. These differences are employed toprovide geese deterrence systems that do not annoy humans.

Humans are able to see colors through three retinal cones that perceivethe three primary colors: blue, green, and red. This is termed“trichromic vision”. These colors are within the visible spectrum oflight (400-700 nm). Most birds, including geese, have “tetra chromicvision” meaning they have the ability to perceive four colors throughfour retinal cones. Similar to humans, three of the retinal conesperceive the primary colors. The extra cone perceives ultraviolet light(UV; 200-400 nm).

Another benefit of the present invention is that the quality of thewater in ponds is adversely affected due to the tremendous amounts ofmanure produced from a single goose, let alone a flock. Thus, especiallyused in conjunction with the invention set forth in the parentapplication (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,016,290, incorporated herein by thisreference), the present invention enables a pond owner to have a farcleaner pond than they would otherwise, with the decrease in goose poopenabling one to avoid the often expensive use of chemicals andbeneficial bacteria to otherwise counteract the negative effects ofgoose manure.

The light features of the present invention—and it may be more thanone—can be mounted on several places on a floating structure, such as adecoy, including the head, back, tail, etc. is therefore reduce theamount of goose poop in a pond.

In birds, each cone cell contains a tiny drop of colored oil that humancells lack. The oil drop functions much like a filter on a camera lens.The result is that birds not only see UV light, they are much betterthan humans at detecting differences between two similar colors. Thus,since birds can detect more colors than humans can, scenes may appearmore varied. And colors that already are bright to human eyes are—ifamplified by UV reflectance-probably even brighter to birds. The Canadagoose possesses an oblique rather than horizontal visual streak at theganglion cell layer. Using micro spectrophotometry, it has been foundthat the Canada goose has a violet-sensitive visual system with fourvisual pigments with absorbance peaks at 409, 458, 509 and 580 nm. TheCanada goose oblique visual streak is the retinal center for chromaticand achromatic vision, allowing individual birds to sample the sky andthe ground simultaneously or the horizon depending on head position.This is in contrast to other vertebrate species, who have horizontalstreaks (parallel to the ground when the head is up). Overall, theCanada goose visual system has features that make it rather differentfrom that of other vertebrates living in open habitats. The Canada gooseis a highly social species that uses different visual displays forsocial communication such as pair bonding, coordination of pre-flightmovements and agonistic interactions. The present invention plays off ofthe characteristics of geese in designing effective deterrence systemsand methods in a fashion that prior art devices simply failed toappreciate.

Certain aspects of the present invention are directed to the use oflasers and flashing lights at times other than the dusk or twilighthours as it is submitted that geese track possible locations for beddingdown well prior to such hours in a day. Thus, by having geese deterrencein place and active prior to the time the prior art devices areemployed, the preset invention can be viewed as distinct from such priormethods and philosophy.

In contrast to prior art systems, various embodiments of the presentinvention do not employ a housing tube having a light source mounted onan upper end of a tube, nor a solar cell mounted above a flashing lightsource; nor a battery disposed in such a housing tube below a flashinglight source, and does not have a ballast tube, and certainly no suchballast tube mounted below a housing tube. Due to the absence of suchhousing and ballast tubes, the present invention avoids the need for anysealing collar that couples such tubes together. Moreover, variousembodiments do not include a separate floating member associated withany housing or ballast tube, especially not any floating member disposedabove such a floating member. While a battery can be positioned invarious places within the decoy features as disclosed herein, it neednot be, and preferably is not, disposed above any particular floatingmember, and in some preferred embodiments having a battery positioned soas to act as (and sometimes supplant) the ballast that may be desired ina floating decoy. In certain embodiments, a ballast is not enclosedwithin a tube, but rather, is either relatively free in the body of afloating decoy or is otherwise associated with a floating decoy in afashion such that it can be added (e.g. an amount of sand) in thelowermost portion of a decoy. Any of the floating decoy embodiments ofthe present invention can be anchored in a water body using any of avariety of anchor mechanisms well known in the art.

Preferably, in embodiments that employ solar panels, such panels are notpositioned above the light source, principally so that the area of thesolar panel can be extended over the larger surface of the decoy, withthe light source itself preferably being positioned above the solarpanels and in a position so that the light source can shine in adirection and on a plane such that it maximizes the directionalorientation of pulsating lights towards the approximate height ofCanadian geese.

One will appreciate that this summary of the invention is not intendedto be all encompassing and that the scope of the invention nor itsvarious embodiments, let alone the most important ones, are necessarilyencompassed by the above description. One of skill in the art willappreciate that the entire disclosure, as well as the incorporatedreferences, pictures, etc. will provide a basis for the scope of thepresent invention as it may be claimed now and in future applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates the respective vision spectrum of a goose and ahuman.

FIG. 2 is an embodiment depicting a coyote decoy with a solar panelpositioned on its back.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment that employs a golf course flag having a LEDrandomly flashing light source as a portion of a deterrent system of thepresent invention, with mirrors mounted on separate structures toreflect the lights emanating from the flashing light source.

FIG. 4A is a depiction of a particular goose decoy including a solarpanel across the back portion and a light element above such solarpanel.

FIG. 4B is a top view depiction of a particular goose decoy including asolar panel across the back portion and a light element above such solarpanel.

FIG. 5A shows another embodiment where aspects of a geese deterrentsystem are incorporated into a golf ball washing structure.

FIG. 5B shows another embodiment where aspects of a geese deterrentsystem are incorporated into a pathway light where the upper portion isa solar panel and the light is a 360 degree illumination.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment where a drone hover craft is providedwith lights to deter geese from remaining in an area.

As may be appreciated from the various illustrated devices set forthherein, one advantage of the present system over prior art systems hasto do with the ability to avoid habituation caused by geese witnessingthe same structure, emanating the same wavelength light, with about thesame pattern, and basically in the same position, night after night,thus facilitating habituation by the geese to such initially effectivesystems. In contrast to the prior art systems, due in part because theholes into which golf flags that are associated with the present system,are inserted are moved periodically, sometimes weekly or daily, aroundany given green, facilitating the change of appearance to geese that isbelieved to be instrumental in deterrence. This alone facilitates thedesired variety in how a deterrent system is perceived by the geese andmakes them question their surroundings in a much more long-standing way.Moreover, in preferred embodiments, the vertical positioning of a lightgenerating device 10 that is securable to a golf flag pole 12, can bevaried in its position of attachment, such that geese are precluded fromever feeling comfortable with a particular setting on a golf course. Inparticular, when such a system is used in conjunction with a pluralityof mirrors 14 that are positioned such that the light emitted for one ormore units 10 is reflected via such mirrors 14, further makes the geesewary and unassured as to where the source of the light source is. Inother embodiments, the ability to have the light source 10 remotelypositioned and then directed toward a flag pole 12 on a golf coursepermits a user, especially in concert with the use of pre-positionedmirror 14 structures that reflect light that is projected remotely butthat reflects off the flag pole 12 (which is provided with a reflectivesurface to facilitate such reflection of light to distantly positionedmirrors 14) so as to deter geese without having to have the light source10 located directly in the area where geese may rest and where it isdesired to have them depart.

Various embodiments of the present invention include a method ofrepelling geese by providing a decoy having a solar panel 16 associatedtherewith, such panel 16 employed to charge a resident battery insidethe decoy, with such panels preferably on the body of the decoy andpositioned below a randomly flashable light source 10, and having thedecoy positioned either in a water body or within 50 yards thereof, suchthat the light source 10 is positioned such that the light isprincipally directed to the level of the geese eyes when flashing andpreferably having a wavelength selected from the following nm: 409; 458;509, 550 and most preferably, 409.

Another aspect of many embodiments is the light shield aspects of thesystem so that annoying illumination of light that can be perceived byhumans is kept to a minimum. While not preferred, if lights are employedthat emit wavelengths that are visible by humans, the shields of thepresent invention are adapted to block light above the eye level ofgeese such that neighboring property owners do not experience theannoying flashing lights. One particular embodiment of the presentinvention is adapted to attach to the circumference of even amberlights, as employed by Geese Away, thus blocking the emission of lightfrom such elements in a direction directly opposed to the ground.Preferably, the decoys described herein also have a light shield toensure that the majority of the light emissions are directed laterallyso as to be projected towards the eyes of a geese in the area and do notannoy humans.

Perhaps contrary to common appreciation, the provision of a startlinglight in a decoy of a goose is particularly effective at deterring othergeese from remaining in the area of the decoy, presumably due in part tothe fact that the goose decoy appears to the other geese as a sentinelgoose whose job is to warn others of the gaggle of danger. When such agoose figure displays the disconcerting flashing lights 10 at eye levelof the other geese, the geese get wary, confused and ultimately leavethe area. The fact that the single goose decoy remains is believed to beof little consequence in terms of geese falsely believing that the areais safe. As many geese in any particular area are resident geese, oncesuch a geese gaggle has experienced the frightening spectacle of a“black-light”, a blue and/or purple randomly flashing light 10 emanatingfrom a goose decoy, such geese retain such unpleasant memories and failto return to that site. Use of positioned mirror 14 structures withinabout 75 yards from the source of the light emission 10, especially ifit is emanating from a decoy or from a light projector associated with agolf pin 12 or other golf course structure, creates further confusion togeese and thus, enhances the desired wariness instilled in geese so thatthey avoid particular areas. In other embodiments, while other predatordecoys (such as the Owl, coyote, snake, etc. of the geese) are effectivein their own right, the goose decoy lighting system 10 of the presentinvention is believed to be both counter intuitively unique andeffective as a goose deterrent, while also blending in with the naturalenvironments at issue, including a golf course. It is believed to becounter-intuitive to have a goose decoy device positioned on a golfcourse in order to deter, rather than attract geese. This teaching awayfrom the prior art is believed to be particularly novel and non-obvious.

In preferred embodiments, the flashing light 10 rotates periodically,either in 360 degree circles or in other selectable angular repeatedrotations such that an area is traversed by flashing light 10 in afashion that further makes geese uncomfortable, and in preferredembodiments, the rotations are random so as to avoid habituation ofgeese to such units. Having such flashing light 10 units moveable,especially via remote control, as one of skill will appreciate, can beachieved via technology provided in remote controlled toy vehicles, etc.and can further enhance the anti-habituation geese aspects of thepresent invention. Moreover, drone craft of various sorts can beemployed that are fitted with either or both sound 18 and light emittingunits 10 such that a hovering drone vehicle can be employed to targetareas where geese have landed so as to scare them away. U.S. Pat.Publication 20150035437 to Panopoulos is incorporated herein by thisreference in this regard to provide written description and enablementfor various devices that, with the guidance provided herein, canfacilitate systems and methods for deterring and driving away geese fromparticular areas of land or water. Having the drone resemble a bird ofprey is one preferred embodiment of the present invention, such thatgeese will be harassed by the appearance of such a predator, as well asby either or both sonic 18 and light signals 10 that disturb and repelsuch geese from remaining in an area.

In some preferred embodiments, at least two, and preferably three sentrygeese decoys, fitted with at least one of, and preferably both of, thelight 10 and sonic emission 18 features as described herein, is operablyconnected to a solar-powered 16 device for powering the light and thesound emanating devices, such that preferably both the light 10 and thesound 18 is scarcely noticeable to humans but is very disruptive togeese, causing them to find another habitat.

Instead of prior art systems that flash in predictable time periods,preferred embodiments purposefully have a random flashing pattern thatleads to geese not being able to grow accustomed to the flashingnon-patterns. Thus, the system and method of the present invention ispreferably a solar-powered 16 light 10 charged each day and preferablyrandomly flashed at least in a 90 degree angle, more preferably in a 180degree arc and in some embodiments in an arc of 360 degrees, preferablyfrom dusk to dawn, at eye-level of the geese and at 409 nm.

One aspect of the present invention, in the context of using goosedecoys as a select version for deterrence, is to use at least threesentry geese decoys fitted with the visual and sonic systems as setforth herein. Geese hunters appreciate that setting out decoys toattract geese must be done in a natural fashion to achieve the comfortlevel of the geese to land in a pattern of decoys. Thus, it is believedthat having a majority of sentry geese as decoys, rather than resting orsleeping geese decoys, is important as it signals to overflying geesethat there may be danger. Goose hunters prefer to have 1 sentry to every10 feeder decoys. It is believed that if you have too many sentrydecoys, incoming flocks may think they are actually on alert. Thus,having at least a plurality of sentry geese further acts as a deterrentto having geese flocks land in the first place. Moreover, when thesentry decoy goose emits disconcerting lights 10 and sounds 18, the livegeese are even further concerned and wary and thus, fly away from thearea.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Various embodiments of the invention are now described with reference tothe Figures. The embodiments of the present invention, as generallydescribed and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged anddesigned in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, thefollowing more detailed description of several exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention, as represented in the Figures, is not intended tolimit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merelyrepresentative of some of the embodiments of the invention.

As described herein, various embodiments employ the use of either orboth sound 18 and lights 10 with a decoy so that one avoids theindustrial lighting appearance of prior art devices that are intended todeter geese from an area. Examples of decoys are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,412,210; 6,487,811; 6,760,993; 7,117,628; 8,485,856; 9,078,425;7,411,504; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0014423 allof which are expressly incorporated herein by reference for al purposes.To further comply with written description and enablement requirements,the following patents and patent publications are also incorporatedherein by this reference in their entireties: U.S. Pat. No. 9,055,737 toMatzel. U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,018 to Wells; U.S. Pat. No. 8,226,260 toWhalan; U.S. Pat. No. 8,667,930 to Homung; U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,597 toCramer; U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,422 to Wutschik; U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,218 toGates; U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,726 to Dimitri; U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,808 toTakeshi and U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,047 to Momingstar. Thus, decoys that areland based, as well as those that are water based can be employed. Inone embodiment, the decoy is a shark fin that floats in the water andappears as if it is the fin of a shark extending out of the water, witha light element 10 such that light emanates from one or both sides ofthe fin. Alternative decoys can be of an alligator or crocodile, withsimilar light elements 10 and solar panel elements 16 floating above thewater.

While one focus of the present invention is to address the considerableissues relating to geese populations, other aspects of the invention aredirected to other avian species and for the protection of pond dwellingcreatures that are prone to be eaten by birds. Thus, Cormorants, heronsand other predatory species of birds which prey on fish often flocktowards bodies of water such as ponds which hold fish. The birds prey onthese fish and deplete the number of fish in the Pond. These birdshowever are known to fear crocodiles and the like which in turn prey onthese birds. The various decoy features, especially those having thelight emitting elements 10—even more preferably tuned to address thoseparticular bird species (e.g. as not all birds have the same visioncharacteristics as geese, and thus, lower or higher wavelengths maypreferably be employed to ward off certain distinct bird species). Avariety of decoy types can be employed for such purpose, as one candiscern from the figures, and may for example, include: turtles, toads,hippos, crocodile's, alligators, shark fins, etc. Preferred embodimentsof the present disclosure provide a life like three-dimensional versionof a real animal that is accurate.

In preferred embodiments, the decoys of the present invention do notalso employ audible noises to attempt to scare geese. It is believedthat as with the annoying nature of rotating amber lights of prior artdevices, the interference with another's quiet enjoyment of theirproperties due to an adjacent property owner wishing to deter geesepopulations present a problematic situation. Having said this, incertain embodiments, the use of audible signals 18 to unnerve geese isanother aspect included in various embodiments of the present invention,thus including the use of an audible spectrum that only birds can hear,instead of humans. Incorporated herein by this reference is U.S. Pat.No. 8,164,462 to Bose; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,255 to Lenhardt.Importantly, and while not bound by theory, prior reports as to thehearing range of geese are in dispute. The present inventors believethat geese can indeed hear sounds outside the normal hearing range ofhumans, and it is this particular aspect of geese hearing that forms thebasis for several of the embodiments set forth herein. Indeed, it isbelieved that prior reports that geese cannot hear ultrasonic sounds isinaccurate and has thus steered those of skill in the art away from evenattempting to provide deterrent systems that employ ultrasonic signalsto deter geese. It is known that a dog whistle emits ultrasound at afrequency in the range 18-22 kHz. It is believed that geese can alsohear sounds having a wavelength of about that same range, morepreferably about 20 kHz. Some in the prior art have stated that birds,including geese, have an upper limit of hearing at about 10 kHz.

Many in the prior art deny that geese can hear ultrasonic emissions,e.g. Ferguson, et. al. has expressed the opinion, now believed to bebereft of factual support, that birds hear the same level as humans;Birds don't hear ultrasound; birds cannot hear ultrasound frequenciesand the ultrasonic devices don't work; and ultrasonic devices usingfrequencies between 15 and 30 kHz are completely ineffective save for afew song birds. Such a teaching away from many embodiments of thepresently claimed invention is striking and renders the novelty andnon-obvious character of the claimed invention more apparent. Indeed, itis now believed, in contrast to prior representations to the contrary,that the majority of birds can hear to 29 KHz and thus can respond toultrasound.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,718,297 and 2015/0230450 to Norris, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, inform one ofskill in the art as to particular details useful in providing variouswritten description and enablement disclosures for the presentspecification. In general, a deterrence system in certain embodimentsincludes any of a number of ultrasonic emitter 18 technologies. Thesecan include, for example, piezo electric emitters, electrostaticemitters, or other ultrasonic emitters. Likewise, any of a number ofmodulation schemes can be used to modulate audio content or otherinformation onto an ultrasonic carrier, and the modulated signal caninclude double side band and single sideband modulation.

The ultrasonic signal itself, without modulation, can be used to deterintrusion and can cause geese to retreat or move away from the sound.Humans are not capable of hearing the ultrasonic signal itself. Contraryto what Norris expresses, however, it is simply not accurate that birds,and especially geese, are not capable of hearing an ultrasonic signal.

Thus, use of an inaudible (to human) ultrasonic signal 18 impinging ongeese results in an auditory signal being generated within the head ofthe bird. Without being bound by theory, whether the geese actually hearsuch signals or whether such signals have the practical effect ofcausing the deterrence desired, matters little. The important fact isthat employment of ultrasonic signals can positively affect theobjective of deterring geese from a certain area where ultrasonicsignals 18 are generated and communicated. In one embodiment, afrequency for the ultrasonic signal 18 is in the range of 15 kHz to 20kHz, which may produce a subharmonic at F/2 in the range of 7.5 kHz to10 kHz. Indeed, as stated above, it is now believed, in contrast toprior representations to the contrary, that the majority of birds canhear to 29000 Hz and thus can respond to ultrasound. Prior artinvestigators have arrived at opposite conclusions than the findings andbeliefs of the present inventors, including prior art commentatorscontending that “birds have not been shown to be able to detect soundsat high frequencies. Therefore, ultrasonic repellents are not useful”(Belant & Martin, 2011); “birds, unlike some mammals, do not hearultrasonic (<20 kHz) sounds (Schwartzkopff 1973, Dooling 1982); etc.Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, in conjunction with arandomly flashing light 10 at about 409 nm wavelengths mounted withinone of the described decoys set forth herein, or mounted or as anintegral part of golf course structures, including golf flag poles 12,ultrasonic (to human) sound emitters 18 are useful in achieving thedesired deterrence of geese. In one embodiment, for example, a QB-4ultrasound roughly (30 kHz, 80 db @0.5 m) device 18 is included withinthe interior of a decoy and is then able to project ultrasonic signalsat least 25 feet, and more preferably about 50 feet from the decoy todeter the presence of geese.

Even devices that attempt to combine sonic and visual geese deterrenceelements fail to appreciate the subtle but important aspects of thepresent invention, including the features of having the random andunpredictable sonic 18 and light flashing elements 10 housed in asuitable decoy, preferably a goose decoy, and in other embodiments,natural predators of geese, and most preferably in this regard, coyotedecoys. A suitable sonic system 18 mounted inside such a decoy(insulated inside the cavity of such a decoy) and having suitablespeakers to broadcast the preferably ultrasonic emissions 18 that canreach about 50 feet from such a decoy, is particularly effective whenused in conjunction with the flashing lights 10 as described herein,especially those that are not amber in color, but rather that emitessentially wavelengths in the blue-purple spectrum, and most preferablyat about 409 nm wavelengths.

Birds are especially sensitive to pitch, tone and rhythm changes and usethose variations to recognize other individual birds, even in a noisyflock. Birds also use different sounds, songs and calls in differentsituations, and recognizing the different noises is essential todetermine if a call is warning of a predator, advertising a territorialclaim or offering to share food. Thus, one aspect of the presentinvention is to include such sonic signals 18 to thwart the presence ofgeese at a particular location by randomly providing such signals 18such that they can be heard by geese and in such a manner, deter geesefrom remaining in a particular area.

For birds, hearing is second in importance only to vision for monitoringthe world around them. In general, frequency discrimination in birds isonly about one-half or one-third as good it is for humans within the 1-4kHz range. A problem that birds suffer that is similar to humans isdamage to the auditory receptors (hair cells) from loud noises. Thesound intensity that produces damage and the amount of damage produceddiffers depending on the species. Birds residing in the active areas ofairports might be constantly subjected to sound pressure levels thatdamage their hearing. Thus, the use of louder deterrence signals is notnecessarily effective and indeed, can damage the hearing of geese suchthat such loud sounds are no longer effective in deterring geese. Thisis a counter-intuitive finding and thus, certain embodiments of thepresent invention are specifically designed so that damage to geesehearing is not involved by transmission of the sound signals, thusrendering such repeated signals effective as a deterrent. More is notalways better when it comes to sound. What prior art sound deterrentsystems failed to appreciate is that sound emissions in the ultrasonicrange 18 are the most important. The misconception that humans and birdshave similar hearing abilities and reactions to such sounds has resultedin ineffective sound deterrence systems being employed in the prior art.Thus, one aspect of the present invention, in a teaching away from theprior art, relates to eliminating or reducing the use of loud soundcannons to scare birds—as all that such systems achieved was indeafening geese so that they eventually did not care about such loudnoises. Instead, a much more refined system is called for to thwart thepresence of birds in an area by employing sounds (and sights, aselsewhere discussed herein) that lead to the birds preferring to beelsewhere. At the same time, if both sound 18 and vision elements 10 areselected that effect birds but that do not unduly annoy humans, thensuch aspects should be administered in bird repelling devices andmethods. The present invention accomplishes this general objective byrefining the prior art systems in a manner that selectively administersprecise wavelength and audible sound wave presentations so that thebasic objective of deterring birds from a pre-designated area isachieved in a manner that avoids the habituation issues experienced byprior art devices. In other words, a sledgehammer does not render ascalpel obvious.

In preferred embodiments, the described systems that employ sounds 18,as well as the wavelength spectrums 10 as set forth herein, employsounds 18 selected in the high range of geese hearing, such that aboveat least about 10 kHz and most preferably at least about 15 kHz, andmore preferably around 20 kHz be employed.

Various embodiments include the use of decoys that include lighting 10and/or sound systems 18 that achieve the general goal of avoidinghabituation of geese to the deterrence lights 10/sounds 18 from thedevices as described herein. Additional embodiments may also beconfigured to include reflective and/or glow in the dark accessories fornight applications (e.g., eyes) of the decoys and may even include amotion sensitive solar powered light 16. To comply with written anddescription requirements, the following are incorporated herein by thisreference: U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2014/0241128 to Donoho; U.S. Pat.No. 6,906,472 to Wong; U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,815 to Speigel; and U.S. Pat.No. 9,055,737 Matzel et al. Still other embodiments of the geesedeterrent devices of the present invention can optionally include one ormore sensors operatively coupled with a processor to assist incontrolling which lights, wavelengths, frequencies, pulsations, sound(s)to use, and timing of displays, etc. and in this regard, the followingare incorporated herein by this reference: U.S Pat. Publication No.2012/0113754 to Husseiny; U.S. Pat. No. 8,934,319 to Donoho; and U.S.Pat. Publication No. 2013/0058740 to Jincks. Both infra sound andultrasound devices 18 can be employed in the present invention, however,ultrasound is preferred due to the belief that it is most useful inconcert with the visual aspects of geese deterrence as described herein.

Still other embodiments are directed to birds and animals other thangeese, such as systems and methods to scare away Great Blue Herons,raccoons, and other common koi pond predators through a combination of amotion detection system which triggers an auditory and/or movementresponse from a variety of common enemies of koi pond predators andfanciful creatures intended to frighten koi predators. To employ suchsystems and methods the light sensing and sound sensing of particularspecies can be assessed and then appropriate deterrence provided inaccordance with the various teachings of the present invention.

Photoreceptors of geese are able to absorb light strongly at violet (409nm), blue (458 nm), green (509 nm) and yellow (580 nm) wavelengths.Plotting the distributions of the cones across the retina, scientistshave found that the photoreceptors were most densely packed where theycoincided with the inclined visual streak, and they suspect that thedistribution allows geese to simultaneously see the sky and groundclearly. So the Canada goose's vision is well suited to its flockinglifestyle, and allows it to survey its surroundings. In variousembodiments, use of black light 10 is employed as it does not distracthumans, while it serves to disturb geese. UV-A light (320-400 nm) is UVlight with the longest wavelength, and the least harmful. It is morecommonly known as “black light”, and many use its ability to causeobjects to emit fluorescence.

Another aspect of the present invention is to locate the systems asdescribed herein in airport environments to lessen the occurrence ofcollisions with birds, and particularly with geese. Similar approachescould be adapted for stationary obstacles, too—such as skyscrapers orwind turbines—to help reduce collisions. Thus, while the emphasis hasbeen directed to a system and method for use by golf courses andresidential home owners who wish to rid themselves of geese in theirvicinity, the present invention has numerous other applications in othersettings, which one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate basedon the guidance as provided herein.

While any type of light can be employed in various versions of thepresent invention, including yellow, amber, red, green blue and purple,preferably, the embodiments of the present system and method do notemploy light in the green spectrum of 500 nm to 570 nm (on frequency toa band about 540 THz.) It is preferable to employ a light spectrum thatis below that of the human but still within the light spectrum of thegoose so that undesired light annoyance of humans is avoided. Inpreferred embodiments, lights 10 can be highly collimated or directed atvery low angles across the surface of a pond and to its adjacent banks,so as not to disturb any nearby human presence such as a residence orplace of business.

Preferably, a cycle of distinct, unique light flash patterns, mostpreferably random in nature, is employed to further agitate the geese.Amber color of the light source does not fall into the range ofeffecting dark-adapted nighttime vision and does not affect the rods inthe eye for dark-adapted nighttime vision. At twilight, rods in the eyeprovide most of the vision and green is brilliantly brighter at dusk anddark than during daylight. Red, and amber on the light spectrum chart,have little effect on the rods of the eyes of either humans or geese.Ultraviolet light below human perception, preferably via LEDs, areeffective at bird dispersal, as they turn off quickly and completely.Traditional incandescent lamps have residual light as they are poweringdown. The use of blue light is not harmful to humans as blue lightphototherapy using a narrowband LED light source appears to be a safeand effective additional therapy for mild to moderate acne, with suchlight having a peak wavelength 409-419 nm at 40 mW/cm2. Preferred lights10 for use in the present invention are powered by batteries which arecharged by a solar panel 16 and are activated at night by a photocell.Circuitry is provided to control flashing of the light at apredetermined frequency, and encapsulation or other means are used torender the electronics waterproof.

The present invention in various embodiments is distinguished from theprior art in various ways. For example, Wells teaches the use of adevice that requires the battery be above a flotation device. Wellsfurther requires that a solar panel be positioned above a light source.Moreover, a tube must be employed to hold the battery and another tubeemployed to hold a ballast, resulting in an unattractive floating lightpost. Wells also teaches the use of a single spectrum in theamber-yellow zone. Others later described systems that employed a lightspectrum that is shared with humans, namely the green spectrum of 500 nmto 570 nm on frequency to a band about 540 THz, the green region of thevisual spectrum, as well as the UVA spectrum of 300 nm to 399 nm. Othershave advocated the use of a spectrum in the 500 nm to 570 nm frequencyto a band about 540 THz.

If geese fly into a pond and settle there, the nightly random flashes ofthe present system 10 drive them away, even after a single night or partthereof and they do not return. Alternative embodiments are designed foruse outside a water body but still in an area where geese are sought tobe repelled. In still other embodiments, the devices are designed tohave a floating randomly flashing light 10 structure and resemble aSwan, —or on land, a coyote, fox, snake, and Owl etc. (natural predatorsand enemies of Geese) such that instead of an unattractive light fixtureon a person's pond or property, the present invention provides adesirable and unobtrusive natural looking artificial decoy—that alsodoes the job of the light alone—is more appealing to a pond owner—andneighbors—golf courses, etc. Decoys of the present invention look farmore natural than an industrial appearing light post of prior artdesigns. Thus, in several embodiments the system is fitted inside adecoy predator animal, such as a coyote or owls decoy with flashing eyes10, etc. for land based flashing light positions—with all such decoyshaving solar powered units 16, suitable flashing lights 10—either on theeyes or elsewhere. The back portion of such decoys can accommodatelarger and better solar panels 16 than the small solar area described byWells. Moreover, the light source 10 is preferably positioned above thebattery and the solar panel 16 in preferred embodiments, which is incontrast to the systems described by Wells. Wells teaches the use of adevice that requires the battery be above a flotation device. Wellsfurther requires that a solar panel be positioned above a light source.Moreover, a tube must be employed to hold the battery and another tubeemployed to hold a ballast, resulting in an unattractive floating lightpost. In contrast, the present invention departs from prior art systemsas described herein and as presented in the claims.

While specific embodiments and applications of the present inventionhave been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to the precise configuration and componentsdisclosed herein. Various modifications, changes, and variations whichwill be apparent to those skilled in the art may be made in thearrangement, operation, and details of the methods and systems of thepresent invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatthe conception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily beutilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods andsystems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention.It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including anysuch equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to repel geese from a golf course green,comprising: a) providing a device that has a light emitter that emits apredetermined wavelength of light that is detectable by geese but thatis not detectable by humans, wherein the light wavelength is within arange of from 320-409 nm; b) activating the light of the device to detergeese from occupying the area prior to nightfall, wherein the lightemitted by the device is directed at least on a plane at the eye levelof a goose, wherein the device does not employ a single rhythmiccyclical flashing light pattern; and wherein the device is housed in astructure comprising a golf pin; c) randomly emitting unsynchronizedlight emissions using the device, with the light emissions being emittedwithin a time period varying from one second to 120 second intervals;wherein the light emitter makes geese anxious enough to depart the area.2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the device furthercomprises a sound emitter that emits a sound wavelength between 20 kHzand 22 kHz.
 3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the devicefurther comprises a sound emitter that produces a subharmonic at F/2 inthe range of 7.5 kHz to 10 kHz.
 4. The method as set forth in claim 1,wherein the light emitter employs LED lighting elements.
 5. The methodas set forth in claim 1, wherein said light emitter produces a lighthaving a sole wavelength of 409 kHz.
 6. The method as set forth in claim1, wherein a sequence of light emissions vary so that geese do not growaccustomed to a steady rhythmic emission of light or sound from saiddevice.
 7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lightwavelength for the light emitter is between 400 nm and 409 nm.
 8. Themethod as set forth in claim 1, wherein the device includes a battery,and the light emitter is positioned above the battery.
 9. The method asset forth in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises at least onesolar panel mounted below a topmost portion of the device, said at leastone solar panel being mounted in an area below the light emitter. 10.The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light emitter ispositioned within about 15″-24″ from ground level.
 11. The method as setforth in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a sound emitterthat emits a sound wavelength between 20 kHz and 22 kHz and the soundemitter produces a subharmonic at F/2 in the range of 7.5 kHz to 10 kHz.12. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light emitter variesa frequency of the unsynchronized light emissions in the range of 1 Hzto 7 Hz.
 13. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein operation ofsaid device prevents geese from becoming accustomed to a predictableseries of light flashes.
 14. The method as set forth in claim 1, furthercomprising pre-programming desired lighting patterns, intensities, anddurations of the light emitter.
 15. The method as set forth in claim 2,wherein the sound emitter emits a sound at night that cannot be heard byhumans.
 16. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lightemitter comprises a laser.
 17. A method to repel geese from a golf greenin a manner that avoids undesired light annoyances to humans,comprising: a) providing a device that has a light emitter that emits apredetermined wavelength of light that is detectable by geese but thatis not detectable by humans, wherein the light wavelength is within arange between 400 nm and 409 nm; b) activating the light of the deviceto deter geese from occupying the area prior to nightfall, wherein thelight emitted by the device is directed at least on a plane at the eyelevel of a goose, wherein the device does not employ a single rhythmiccyclical flashing light pattern; and wherein the device is housed in astructure selected from the group consisting of a golf pin, and a decoyresembling one of a coyote, owl, goose, wolf, dog, snake; swan,waterfowl bird, and an alligator; c) randomly emitting unsynchronizedlight emissions using the device, with the light emissions being emittedwithin a time period varying from one second to 120 second intervals anda sound emitter that emits a sound at night that can be heard by geesebut that cannot be heard by humans.
 18. The method as set forth in claim17, wherein the light emitter emits a light at night that cannot be seenby humans.
 19. A method to repel geese from an area in a manner thatavoids undesired light annoyances to humans, comprising: a) providing adevice that has a light emitter that emits a predetermined wavelength oflight that is detectable by geese but that is not detectable by humans,wherein the light wavelength is within a range between 400 nm and 409nm; b) activating the light of the device to deter geese from occupyingthe area prior to nightfall, wherein the light emitted by the device isdirected on a plane at the eye level of a goose, wherein the device doesnot employ a single rhythmic cyclical flashing light pattern; andwherein the device is housed in a structure selected from the groupconsisting of a golf pin, a golf ball washer structure, and a decoyresembling one of a coyote, owl, goose, wolf, dog, snake; swan,waterfowl bird, and an alligator; c) randomly emitting unsynchronizedlight emissions using the device, with the light emissions being emittedwithin a time period varying from one second to 120 second intervals; asound emitter that emits a sound at night that can be heard by geese butthat cannot be heard by humans, said sound emitter producing asubharmonic at F/2 in the range of 7.5 kHz to 10 kHz.
 20. The method asset forth in claim 19, wherein the device is housed in a structurecomprising a golf pin.